JERUSALEM/CAIRO - Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the Oct 7, 2023, attack against Israel that triggered the Gaza war, was killed on Oct 17, said Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

       Here are some reactions from global leaders:

       Sinwar’s death provides the opportunity for a “day after” in Gaza without the militant group in power. “Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of those goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us.”

       “Yahya Sinwar, the brutal leader of the terrorist organisation Hamas, has been eliminated by the IDF (Israel Defence Forces). Under Sinwar’s leadership, Hamas carried out the horrific atrocities of Oct 7, sought to destroy Israel, and launched senseless, devastating terror attacks on civilians across the region. Today delivers a measure of justice for his victims and their families. Sinwar’s death ends a reign of terror.”

       “Yahya Sinwar was the main person responsible for the terrorist attacks and barbaric acts of Oct 7. Today, I think with emotion of the victims, including 48 of our compatriots, and their loved ones. France demands the release of all hostages still held by Hamas.”

       “Sinwar was a brutal murderer and terrorist, who wanted to destroy Israel and its people. As the mastermind of the terror on Oct 7, he brought death to thousands of people and immeasurable suffering to a whole region. Hamas must now release all hostages and lay down its weapons; the suffering of the people in Gaza must finally end.”

       “With the death of Yahya Sinwar comes the demise of the main perpetrator of the Oct 7, 2023, massacre.

       "My belief is that a new phase must now begin: It is time for all hostages to be released, for an immediate ceasefire to be proclaimed, and for reconstruction to begin in Gaza. We will continue to vigorously support every effort in this direction, and for the resumption of a serious and credible political process leading to the two-state solution.”

       “I, for one, will not mourn the death of a terror leader like Sinwar, someone who was responsible for the terror attack on Oct 7, and I'm conscious like the UK Government is that that triggered not just the darkest, deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Second World War, but it’s triggered since more than a year of conflict and an intolerable level of civilian Palestinian casualties as well.”

       “Our IDF forces eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and chief architect of the Oct 7 massacre. Yesterday, at the UN Security Council, many asked why we are still in Gaza a year after the Oct 7 atrocities. Today, they got the answer. No terrorist is immune to the long arm of the IDF. We will not stop until we bring home all of our hostages and eliminate the Hamas monsters.” REUTERS